The Legend of Surabaya

Folklore from East Java

A long time ago in East Java there were two strong animals,
Sura and Baya. Sura was a shark and Baya was a crocodile. They
lived in a sea. Actually, they were friends. But when they were
hungry, they were very greedy. They did not want to share
their food. They would fight for it and never stop fighting until
one of them gave up.

It was a very hot day. Sura and Baya were looking for some
food. Suddenly, Baya saw a goat.

“Yummy, this is my lunch,” said Baya.

“No way! This is my lunch. You are greedy! I had not eaten for two days!” said Sura.

Then Sura and Baya fought again. After several hours, they were very tired. Sura had a plan
to stop their bad behavior.

“I’m tired of fighting, Baya,” said Sura.

“Me too. What should we do to stop fighting? Do you have any idea?” asked Baya.

“Yes, I do. Let’s share our territory. I live in the water, so I look for food in the sea. And you
live on the land, right? So, you look for the food also on the land. The border is the beach, so we
will never meet again. Do you agree?” asked Sura.

“Hmm... let me think about it. OK, I agree. From today, I will never go to the sea again. My
place is on the land,” said Baya.

Then they both lived in the different places. But one day, Sura went to the land and looked
for some food in the river. He was very hungry and there was not much food in the sea. Baya
was very angry when he knew that Sura broke the promise.

“Hey, what are you doing here? This is my place. Your place is in the sea!”

“But, there is water in the river, right? So, this is also my place!” said Sura.

Then Sura and Baya fought again. They both hit each other. Sura bit Baya's tail. Baya did the
same thing to Sura. He bit very hard until Sura finally gave up. He went back to the sea. Baya
was very happy. He had his place again. The place where they were fighting was a mess. Blood
was everywhere. People then always talked about the fight between Sura and Baya. They then
named the place of the fight as Surabaya, it’s from Sura the shark and Baya the crocodile.
People also put their fight as the symbol of Surabaya city. ***
 Timun Mas
Folklore from Central Java

ONCE upon a time, not far from a jungle, lived husband

and a wife. The were farmers. The were diligent farmers and
always worked hard on the paddy fields. They had been
married for many years and still not have a child yet. Everyday
they prayed and prayed for a child.

One night, while they were praying, a giant passed their

house. The giant heard they pray. "Don't worry farmers. I can
give you a child. But you have to give me that child when she
is 17 years old," said the giant.

The farmers were so happy. They did not think about the
risk of losing their child later and agree to take the offer. Later,
the giant gave them a bunch of cucumber seeds. The farmers
planted them carefully. Then the seeds changed into plants.

Not longer after that, a big golden cucumber grew from plants. After it had ripe, the farmers
picked and cut it. They were very surprised to see beautiful girl inside the cucumber. They
named her Timun Mas or Golden Cucumber. Years passed by and Timun Mas has changed into a
beautiful girl.

On her 17th birthday, Timun Mas was very happy. However, the parents were very sad.
They knew they had to keep their promise to the giant but they also did not want to lose their
beloved daughter. "My daughter, take this bag. It can save you from the giant," said the father.
"What do you mean, Father? I don't understand," said Timun Mas.

Right after that, the giant came into their house. "Run Timun Mas. Save your life!" said the
mother. The giant was angry. He knew the farmers wanted to break their promise. He chased
Timun Mas away. The giant was getting closer and closer.

Timun Mas then opened the bag and threw a handful of salt. It became sea. The giant had
to swim to cross the sea. Later, Timun Mas threw some chilly. It became a jungle with trees. The
trees had sharp thorns so they hurt the giant.

However, the giant was still able to chase Timun Mas. Timun Mas took her third magic stuff.
It was cucumber seeds. She threw them and became cucumber field. B

ut the giant still could escape from the field. Then it was the last magic stuff she had in the
bag. It was a shrimp paste, terasi. She threw it and became a big swamp.

The giant was still trying to swim the swamp but he was very tired. Then he was drowning
and died. Timun Mas then immediately went home. The farmers were so happy that they finally
together again.***
 Mouse Deer and Tiger
Folklore from Central Java

Long time ago in a jungle of Java, tiger was wandering around for food. He hadn't been
eating for days. He was really hungry! While he was approaching a small lake, he saw Mouse
Deer drinking. The tiger want to eat him.

Tiger smiled, "Hmmm yummy, finally I get my lunch!"

Tiger slowly ducked, crawled, and held his breath. And then..."Gotcha!" said Tiger. He
caught Mouse Deer and bit his leg. Mouse Deer was trembling. He was really shocked. But he
tried to be calm. He was thinking of a plan to escape from Tiger. He looked around and suddenly
he had an idea!

He said, "Hey Tiger, I know you are hungry and want to eat me. But the king will angry if he
knows you eat me now."

"Why? The king knows that I eat meat. I eat animals like you! Said Tiger.

Mouse Deer explained, "I guard king's cake. It's very delicious. Only the king and his family
eat it. "Mouse Deer pointed at one big, black lump near the lake. It did not look delicious at all.
But Tiger was curious.

"Don't be fooled by its appearance. Its taste is very delicious. That's why it meant for kings.
And you won't get hungry for a month after you eat it. I tasted it once, "said Mouse Deer.

Tiger's mouth watered. "Can I taste it?"

"Of course you can not The king will punish me like he did when I
tasted it last time. He would kill me if something happened to the
cake again!"

Well...it's all up to you. I eat you or I eat the cake.

The choice is yours."

"Well, then. You don't give me much choice, Tiger. You can have the cake. But first, let me
run away as far as I can. By the way, the king won't be able to get me."

"All right...Now, go!" He was really hungry. He could not wait any longer to eat king's cake.

Mouse Deer took a save distance away from Tiger. But he still could watch him, as Tiger
eagerly took the peace of the 'cake'.

Phooey, it's no cake! It's...it's buffalo's dung! I'll get you, Mouse Deer! You! Watch it!"

But Mouse Deer was already far away. He laughed aloud. Mouse Deer was safe for now.
But Next Time, he might meet face to face with Tiger again.***
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Showing newest posts with label Southeast Sulawesi. Show older posts

Showing newest posts with label Southeast Sulawesi. Show older posts

Oheo

Folklore from Southeast Sulawesi

THERE was a handsome man in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. His name is Oheo. He is a kind
and diligent farmer. He plants sugarcane trees on his fi eld. Everyday he always takes care of the
trees. And he also takes care of the animals.

It was time to harvest the sugarcane. He was so happy. Early in the morning, he left his
house and went to the field. However, he was so surprised when he arrived at the field. The
field was in a mess. It seemed that some people had already taken his sugarcane. He was so
upset.

He wanted to fi nd the thief! He heard some people were laughing.

He heard, “Hmmm this sugarcane is so yummy!”

“Aha!” said Oheo.

“The thieves are still here. I’m going to catch them!”

Oheo tried not to make sounds. However, he could not fi nd them. And when he looked
upward, he saw seven beautiful angels fly at the sky. They had the sugarcane! Those angels flew
to the river. They wanted to take a bath. Oheo followed them.

Oheo was not angry anymore.

Instead, he was so happy. He fell in love and wanted to marry one of the angels. Secretly,
he took one of the angels’ shawls. And of course, after finished taking a bath, one angel could
not fly to the sky.

Oheo then showed up. He pretended that he was willing to help her.

“My name is Oheo. Why do you look so sad?”

“My name is Princess Anawai. I’m an angel. I just lost my shawl. Without it, I cannot fly back
to my home. I live in a palace in the sky,” said the angel.
 “Why don’t you stay at my home while I’m looking for it,” said Oheo.

Princess Anawai agreed to stay at his house.

She did not know that Oheo was hiding her shawl. Later, Oheo asked her to marry him.

Princess Anawai agreed but Oheo had to promise one thing. Oheo had to clean and wash
their children, if they defecated. Oheo agreed. He was really in love with her. Princess Anawai
was so beautiful. He also thought that washing the child is not difficult thing to do.

It was a year after they got married and they had one child. As promised, Oheo always
washed the child after the child defecated.

In one morning, Oheo was busy in the field.

The child was defecating. Princess Anawai asked Oheo to wash the child. Oheo refused. He
said that he was very busy. Princess Anawai was so sad that her husband did not keep his
promise.

So, she washed the child. And then accidentally, she found her shawl.

It was kept in the bathroom.

She wore her shawl and flew to the sky. Oheo tried to impede her but Princess Anawai had
already made up her mind. She was so disappointed.

Oheo was so sorry. He blamed himself for not being able to keep the promise. He really
loved his wife. He tried very hard to fly to the sky. Finally, he got help.

A tree was willing to help him.

Oheo and his child climbed the tree.

Slowly, the tree is getting higher and higher.

And soon, Oheo was able to go to the palace in the sky.

When he arrived, the king was angry. “You already made my daughter sad. If you want to
find her, go to that dark room. If you can find her, you can take her back to your home. But if
you cannot find her, I will put you in the jail.”

Oheo was confused. He did not know how to find her wife in the very dark room. Suddenly,
a firefly came to him. He was willing to help Oheo.

With the help of firefly, the room was no longer dark. Therefore, he could find her wife
easily. After he found her, Oheo asked her to forgive him. He promised to be a better husband.

Later, they went back to their home on earth.***

 The Naughty Monkey
A Folktale from Southeast Sulawesi

A hen and her children are eating. While they are enjoying the food, a monkey comes. The
monkey is the hen's friend.

"Hmmm yummy. May I have some?" asks the monkey. He is very hungry.

The hen feels sorry to the monkey. So, she gives some of her food to the monkey.

The monkey immediately eats the food. He is thinking himself.

"Wow, this food is delicious. Too bad I only can get some?"

The monkey then is planning to steal the entire hen's food. He has an idea.

"Hey, look at the sky. An eagle is coming. He wants to take your children," screams the
monkey.

The hen is shocked! She immediately protects her children. While the hen is protecting her
children, the monkey steals her food. After that the monkey runs away.

The hen realizes that the monkey just tricked her. He goes to her another friend, the crab.
The hen tells all the problems to the crab.

"Don't worry, my friend. I have an idea to give him a lesson." says the crab.

On the following day, the hen meets the monkey. She says, "Let's go to the island over
there. There is much food in that island."

"But I cannot swim," says the monkey.

"Don't worry. I have a boat. You and I can use it to cross the sea," says the hen.

Later, they are in the boat. The monkey does not know that the crab is hiding and making a
hole inside the boat. Slowly the boat is full of water and drowning. The crab swim and the hen
flies. Soon they arrive in the land. They see the monkey is very scared. He screams, "Help! Help!
I can't swim!"

The hen shout, "I will help you, but promise you will never do bad things again."

"OK. I promise. I'll never do bad things again," says the monkey.

After that the hen and the crab help the monkey. ***